Juana Inés de la Cruz
Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana, better known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz OSH (12 November 1648 – 17 April 1695), was a colonial Mexican writer, philosopher, composer and poet of the Baroque period, as well as a Hieronymite nun, nicknamed "The Tenth Muse" and "The Phoenix of America" by her contemporary critics. As a Spanish-criolla from the New Spain, she was among the main American-born contributors to the Spanish Golden Age, alongside Juan Ruiz de Alarcón and Garcilaso de la Vega "el Inca", and is presently considered one of the most important female authors in Spanish language literature and the literature of Mexico.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz | |
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Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz by Miguel Cabrera | |
| Native name | Juana de Asuaje y Ramírez de Santillana |
| Born | Juana Ramírez de Asbaje 12 November 1648 San Miguel Nepantla, New Spain (near modern Tepetlixpa, Mexico) |
| Died | 17 April 1695 (aged 46) Mexico City, New Spain |
| Resting place | Convent of San Jerónimo, Mexico City |
| Pen name | Juana Inés de la Cruz |
| Occupation | Nun, poet, writer, musician composer |
| Language | Spanish, Nahuatl, Latin |
| Education | Self taught until the age of twenty-one. (1669) |
| Period | 17th century Nun |
| Literary movement | Baroque, Culteranismo |
| Years active | ~1660 to ~1693 |
| Notable works |
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| Signature | |
Throughout history Sor Juana's significance to different communities has varied significantly, having been presented as a candidate for Catholic sainthood, a symbol of Mexican nationalism, freedom of speech, women's rights, sexual diversity, and others, making her a figure of great controversy and debate to this day.